Nationally, downtowns are being revived and downtown Milwaukee is no exception. One of our latest and most exciting initiatives is the creation of our Downtown Streetfront Retail Strategy.
With the help of Downtown Works, a consulting firm that specializes in urban retail and downtown merchandising, there is a merchandise mix plan in place and a retail recruiter ready to focus on implementing the strategy.
In June 2010, we introduced the Central Business District Retail Program, which offers retail incentives for retailers that open up shop downtown. With this new focus in place for our downtown, retail will thrive!
Click here to download Milwaukee Downtown's full retail strategy created by Downtown Works.
Click here to download Milwaukee Downtown's retail brochure.
WHY HERE?
We already have an active cultural and arts scene, with over a dozen performing arts groups, a world-class symphony, and prestigious museums. We have a great selection of restaurants with a wide array of cuisine. Our central business district resides within an eclectic mix of historic buildings and modern structures. With a beautiful riverwalk running through the center of our downtown and the gorgeous shore of Lake Michigan on the east, energy flows. We have proven successes with our current boutiques and great restaurant scene, and we are on the brink of expanding that success. We are ready to ride the next wave of innovation. Won’t you join us?
Other important facts:
- 82,000 workers in the downtown BID area
- 1.4 million residents in the primary & secondary trade areas*
- 1.5 million visitors annually in Greater Milwaukee
- easy access to the I-94, I-794, I-43 freeways
- average household income in primary trade area $62,799*
- average household income in secondary trade area $105,012*
*primary trade area – Milwaukee County & secondary trade areas include Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties.
HOW?
Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 has hired a retail recruiter to connect property owners with
prospective retail tenants.
Deanna Inniss, a resident and former retail business owner herself, was hired by Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 in February 2009. Deanna comes to the BID with over 10 years experience in retail working for Gap Inc., and Kohls Department stores. Most recently, Deanna ran her own retail shop for five years in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward. Deanna has a strong passion for Milwaukee and retail, and is excited to be a part of the continued development of downtown.
Deanna is actively recruiting targeted retailers to Milwaukee Downtown, with a focus on the merchandise mix recommendations of the Retail Streetfront Strategy.
The Central Business District Focus Retail Program was introduced in June 2010. The goal of this program is to provide targeted financial incentives to increase the vitality of the downtown retail environment.
Click here to download the Central Business District Focus Retail Program.
Click here to download the White-Box Grant application.
The Retail Forgiveable Loan application will be available August 15, 2010.
For more information, contact Deanna at 414 220 4700 or Deanna@milwaukeedowntown.com
IN THE NEWS...
M Magazine - "Deanna Inniss - Retail Revolutionary" - August 2010
The Business Journal - "Inniss trying to increase downtown retail" by Stacy Vogel Davis - 6/18/10
CNN.com - "Where to get startup cash now" (Boutique Larrieux) - 3/24/10
OnMilwaukee.com - "New plus-size Boutique Larrieux to open in March" by Maureen Post - 1/8/10
Biz Times - "BID will recruit retailers for downtown" by Andrew Weiland - 3/20/09 - 4/2/09
89.7 WUWM's Lake Effect - "Milwaukee's retail recruiter" - 5/7/09
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - "Selling Downtown" by Doris Hajewski - 7/21/09
OnMilwaukee.com - "More thoughts on Downtown retail, Grand Avenue" - 8/8/09
